My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Accessing high-status people through their lieutenants becomes more valuable
Timeframe: Already happening, accelerating over next 5 years
What's Changing
As successful people become busier and less accessible, their trusted seconds-in-command become critical access points
Driving Forces
Increasing celebrity and status inequality
Social media making famous people less accessible
Business complexity requiring more delegation
Winners
- People who recognize and cultivate number two relationships
- Executive assistants and business managers gaining influence
- Those who provide value to gatekeepers
Losers
- People still trying direct celebrity outreach
- Those who treat assistants poorly
- Traditional networking approaches
How to Position Yourself
Build genuine relationships with key assistants and business partners
Provide value directly to number two people
Develop reputation as respectful and professional with gatekeepers
Early Signals to Watch
Example Implementation
“Instead of trying to pitch podcast guests directly, build relationships with their producers and booking managers who control access”
Related Knowledge
Peer vs Fan Relationship Framework
The only valuable celebrity/high-status person relationships are mutual respect between peers, not fan-celebrity dynamic
Number Two Guy Network Strategy
Build relationships with the second-in-command people (assistants, business partners, right-hand people) who have 98% of
do something dope so that they have respect for you as you have respect for them
Valuable relationships with high-status people require mutual respect, not fan-celebrity dynamics
the number two guy has 98% of the access with 2% of the busyness
Second-in-command people provide nearly the same access as principals but are much more available
Neighborhood Stereotype Guide
People make major housing decisions based on brief visits without understanding neighborhood culture and demographics
Little Big Details Framework
Focus on small, seemingly insignificant moments and details that reveal deeper patterns and insights, rather than obviou